Washing machine

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a washing machine. The washing machine comprises a tub; a drain hose discharging washing water stored in the tub to outside, in which a siphon brake hole is formed at one side of the drain hose; a backflow hose guiding the washing water drained through the siphon brake hole during the draining process, as one end of the backflow hose is connected to the siphon brake hole and the other end is directly/indirectly connected to the tub; and a switching element preventing the washing water back-flowed into the backflow hose from being flowed into the tub.

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0097936 (filed onOct. 9, 2006), which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This document relates to a washing machine.

2. Description of the Related art

Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus for removing contaminantsfrom laundry by using an emulsification function of detergent and acurrent caused by rotation of a pulsator or a drum in a state that thelaundry is received in the pulsator or the drum together with washingwater and detergent.

In recent years, a drum washing machine, in which the laundry and thewashing water are collided by lifting and dropping the laundry as a sideof a drum is horizontally installed, acquires popularity. This drumwashing machine is in the limelight among users, since it causes damageto the laundry as little as possible while providing excellent washingeffects.

A conventional drum washing machine includes a drum in which a laundryis received, a tub arranged in the drum to store washing watercontaining detergent, a driving motor driving the drum and a caseforming a main body profile of the drum washing machine.

Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional drum washing machine willbe explained.

First, once the washing machine is operated after the user puts thelaundry into the drum, a washing process is performed as the laundryreceived in the drum and the washing water stored in the tub arecollided by the rotation of the drum. And, after completing the washingprocess, a dehydrating process for removing the washing water or rinsingwater from the laundry is performed as the drum is rotated at a highspeed and a draining process is performed at the same time. Aftercompleting the dehydrating process, the user may take out the laundry todry it or a drying process is further performed.

Meanwhile, according to the conventional drum washing machine, a siphonbrake hole is formed on one side of a drain hose to prevent a siphonphenomenon after finishing the draining process.

In other words, the siphon brake hole is formed to prevent the siphonphenomenon which naturally drains the washing water even though thedrain pump is temporally deactivated when the drain hose is disposed ata lower position than a drain pump. Further, the washing water, whichbackflows via the siphon brake hole, flows into a dispenser along abackflow hose.

SUMMARY

The present embodiment has been made to solve the above problems, and itis an object of the present embodiment to provide a washing machinedesigned to prevent washing water from being reflowed into a drum byblocking the washing water drained through a siphon brake hole frombeing flowed into a dispenser during the draining process. That is, anobject of the present embodiment to provide a washing machine structurecapable of obviating the problem in that a dehydrating effect is reducedas the washing water drained through the siphon brake hole is reflowedinto the drum.

In accordance with one aspect of the present embodiment, the above andother objects can be accomplished by the provision of a washing machine.The washing machine includes a tub; a drain hose discharging washingwater stored in the tub to outside, in which a siphon brake hole isformed at one side of the drain hose; a backflow hose guiding thewashing water drained through the siphon brake hole during the drainingprocess, as one end of the backflow hose is connected to the siphonbrake hole and the other end is directly/indirectly connected to thetub; and a switching element preventing the washing water back-flowedinto the backflow hose from being flowed into the tub.

In another aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided a washingmachine. The washing machine includes a tub; a drum received in the tub;a dispenser connecting the tub and a water supply hose, in whichdetergent is provided; a drain pump draining washing water stored in thetub; a drain hose extended from the drain pump and provided with asiphon brake hole formed at its one side; a backflow hose extended fromthe siphon brake hole to the dispenser; and a switching element providedin an inner side of the backflow hose to open/close the hose dependingon specific conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a drum washing machineaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a drum washing machineaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing a siphon brake device according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail withreference to accompanying drawings. However, the present invention isnot limited to the following examples, but various variations andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention by adding, alternating and deleting anotherconstituent.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with a drum washingmachine by way of example to explain an idea of the present invention.However, the idea of the present invention is not limited to the drumwashing machine, but it embraces all kinds of washing machines includingan upright washing machine.

FIG. 1 shows an external profile of a drum washing machine according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 shows a sideof a drum washing machine according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drum washing machine 10 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention includes a case 100forming external profile of the washing machine; a tub 300 installedinside the case 110 to store washing water and a front of the tub isopened; a drum 210 rotatably received inside the tub and a front of thedrum is opened to put the laundry therein; a front cover 140 mounted onthe front of the case 110 and provided with a laundry input opening 101;and a door 100 rotatably connected to one side of the front cover 140 toselectively open/close the laundry input opening 101.

In addition, the drum washing machine 10 further includes a drivingmotor 170 connected to the drum 210 through a driving shaft 171 in orderto forcibly rotate the drum 210; a control panel 130 mounted on one sideof the upper portion of the front cover 140 and provided with aplurality of buttons 131 to input operating condition of the washingmachine; a dispenser 120 disposed at a side of the control panel 130 anddrawably installed in the case 110, and through which detergent andfabric softener are supplied; and a water supply valve 191 controllingthe flow of washing water into the dispenser 120.

In addition, the drum washing machine 10 further includes a water supplypipe 192 connecting the water supply valve 191 with the dispenser 120and transporting washing water, which is fed from the outside as thewater supply valve 191 is opened, to the dispenser 120; and a bellows121 connecting the dispenser 120 with the tub 300 and providing a watercourse which runs into the tub 300 with washing water and detergent aremixed together.

In addition, the drum washing machine 10 further includes a damper 160mounted on the lower portion of the tub 300 and damping the vibrationgenerated as the drum 210 rotates; a drain pipe 180 connected to abottom of the tub 300 in order to drain washing water stored in the tub300; a drain pump 181 connected to the drain pipe 180 in order toforcibly drain washing water discharged from the drain pipe 180; and adrain hose 182 providing a water course which discharges washing waterdischarged from the drain pump 181 to the outside.

Further, a siphon brake device 400 is provided between the drain hose182 and the dispenser 120, and further explanation of the siphon brakedevice 400 will be described later.

In addition, the drum washing machine 10 further includes a drying fan150 supplying outdoor air into the drum 210 during the drying process; adrying duct 153 connecting the drying fan 150 with the drum 210; aheater 151 heating the sucked outdoor air; a connecting pipe 202discharging the high-temperature high-moisture air imbibed moisture fromthe inside of the drum 210 to the outside; and an exhaust duct 200connected to the connecting pipe 202 and mounted on a side of the case100.

Hereinafter, the operation of the drum washing machine with the abovementioned constituents will be explained.

First, the user opens the door 100 and puts the laundry into the drum210. And, the user pushes a start button after inputting the operatingcondition through the buttons 131 provided in the control panel 130.

And then, the water supply valve is opened and therefore the washingwater supplied through the water supply pipe 192 from the outside flowsinto the dispenser 120. And, the washing water flowed into the dispenser120 is mixed with the detergent stored inside the dispenser 120. And,the washing water mixed with the detergent flows into the tub 300through the bellows 121. the washing water continues to flow thereinuntil a predetermined level is reached.

And, the water supply valve 191 is closed and the driving motor 170starts to run when the washing water, which is to be flowed into the tub300, reaches the predetermined level. And, the drum 210 is rotated bythe driving shaft 171 which rotates as the driving motor 170 rotates.The laundry inputted into the drum 210 collides with the washing water,since the laundry is lifted to the highest point and fallen as the drum210 rotates. And, the contaminants stuck into the laundry are removed bythe emulsification function of the washing water containing thedetergent while colliding the washing water and the laundry.

And, the draining process is started when the washing process isfinished. In other words, the washing water contaminated during thewashing process goes to the drain pump 181 through the drain pipe 180.And, the washing water moved to the drain pump 181 is discharged out ofthe washing machine 10 via the drain hose 182 by driving the drain pump181.

And, when the rinsing process starts after finishing the drain process,the water supply valve 191 is opened and therefore clean washing waterflows into the drum 210 through the water supply pipe 192, and thus, therinsing process is progressed.

And, when the rinsing process is completed, the dehydrating processwhich is to dehydrate water soaked into the laundry by rotating the drum210 at high speed is progressed. Here, the water generated from thedehydrating process is drained by operating the drain pump, and thesiphon brake device prevents some of the drained water from beingreflowed into the drum. The siphon brake device will be described later.

After that, electricity is applied to the heater 151 and therefore theair is heated to a high temperature when the drying process begins. And,the high-temperature low-moisture air is flowed into the tub 300 byrotating the drying fan 150, and thus, the laundry in the tub 300 isdehydrated by the inflow dry air. And, the air, which is turned into thelow-temperature high-moisture air as the laundry is dehydrated, isdischarged out of the drum washing machine 10 through the exhaust duct200.

FIG. 3 shows a system diagram of a siphon brake device according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the siphon brake device 400 includes a siphon brakehole 402; a backflow hose 401 connecting the siphon brake hole 402 witha backflow hole 122 formed in the dispenser 120; and a switching element403 opening/closing the backflow hole 122.

Particularly, one side of the dispenser 120 is connected to the watersupply pipe 192, detergent and fabric softener are stored in thedispenser to mix them with washing water flowed into the dispenserthrough the water supply pipe 192. The washing water mixed with thedetergent is flowed into the tub 300 through the bellows 121.

The lower portion of the tub 300 is connected to the drain pipe 180, andthe drain pipe 180 is connected to one side of the drain pump 181. And,the other side of the drain pump 181 is connected to the drain hose 182to drain the washing water, which is discharged from the drain pump 181,out of the drum washing machine 10.

Meanwhile, a siphon brake hole 402 is formed in one side of the drainhose 182 to prevent a siphon phenomenon by inflowing air into the drainhose 182. The siphon phenomenon, which drains washing water inside thetub 300 out of the drum washing machine 10 when the drain pump isstopped for a while, is prevented because air is flowed into the siphonbrake hole 402.

And, the siphon brake hole 402 and the backflow hole 122 of thedispenser 120 are connected to each other by the backflow hose 401.

And, a switching element 403 for selectively opening/closing thebackflow hole 122 is formed in one side of the backflow hole 122.Particularly, the switching element 403 is closed by the high pressurewashing water which is generated when the drain pump 181 operates. Onthe contrary, the switching element 403 is opened in case that the lowpressure washing water is generated as the drain pump 181 is stopped. Inother words, the switching element 403 is closed at a predeterminedhydraulic pressure and more, and it is opened at a predeterminedhydraulic pressure and less.

This switching element 403 closes the backflow hole 122 when the drumwashing machine 10 conducts the draining process, as it is operated bythe high pressure washing water generated by the drain pump 181.Therefore, it prevents the washing water drained out of the siphon brakehole 402 from being flowed into the dispenser 120. Accordingly, thedrainage performance of the drum washing machine 10 is improved.

Here, the position of the switching element 403 is not restricted to oneside of the backflow hole 121 in the dispenser 120, but the switchingelement 403 may be formed in any selected point of the backflow hose 401in order to selectively open/close the backflow hose 401. Further, acheck valve or an electromagnetic valve may be used as a switchingelement 403.

Hereinafter, the operation of the siphon brake device 400 will beexplained.

First, the washing water stored in the tub 300 is flowed into the drainpump 181 through the drain pipe 180 when the drum washing machine 10begins the draining process. After that, the washing water runs throughthe drain hose 182 as the drain pump 181 operates.

And, some of the washing water is flowed into the siphon brake hole 402formed in the drain hose 403. The drained washing water moves toward thedispenser 120 through the backflow hose 401.

At this time, the switching element 403 is operated by the high pressurewashing water caused by the drain pump 181, and thus, it closes thebackflow hole 122. Therefore, it prevents the washing water from beingflowed into the dispenser 120. Accordingly, the re-entry of the washingwater toward the dispenser 120 is prevented, and the re-entry of thewashing water drained through the drain hose 182 toward the tub 300 isprevented.

1. A washing machine, comprising: a tub; a drain hose dischargingwashing water stored in the tub to outside, in which a siphon brake holeis formed at one side of the drain hose; a backflow hose guiding thewashing water drained through the siphon brake hole during the drainingprocess, having one end connected to the siphon brake hole and the otherend directly or indirectly connected to the tub; and a switching elementpreventing the washing water back-flowed into the backflow hose frombeing flowed into the tub.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1,further comprising: a dispenser in which at least a detergent is stored,wherein the other end of the backflow hose is connected to thedispenser.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein theswitching element is provided in a connecting region between thebackflow hose and the dispenser.
 4. The washing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the switching element comprises a check valve or anelectromagnetic valve.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 1,wherein the switching element is closed when the pressure of the washingwater is higher than a predetermined hydraulic pressure, and theswitching element is opened when the pressure of the washing water islower than the predetermined hydraulic pressure.
 6. The washing machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the switching element is closed during adehydrating process.
 7. A washing machine, comprising: a tub; a drumreceived in the tub; a dispenser connecting the tub and a water supplyhose, in which detergent is provided; a drain pump draining washingwater stored in the tub; a drain hose extended from the drain pump andprovided with a siphon brake hole formed at one side of the drain hose;a backflow hose extended from the siphon brake hole to the dispenser;and a switching element provided in an inner side of the backflow hoseto open/close the hose depending on specific conditions.
 8. The washingmachine according to claim 7, wherein a hydraulic pressure of thewashing water which is drained by a specific condition is providedtherein.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein theswitching element is closed when the pressure of the washing water ishigher than a predetermined hydraulic pressure, and the switchingelement is opened when the pressure of the washing water is lower thanthe predetermined hydraulic pressure.
 10. The washing machine accordingto claim 7, wherein the switching element is provided adjacently to thedispenser.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein theswitching element is closed while the drain pump operates, and it isopened while the drain pump is in abeyance.